The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is the single harmonized value-added tax that will replace the GST and PST in British Columbia on July 1, 2010. The HST will apply at a rate of 12 per cent to those goods and services that are subject to GST. In other words, the PST will be eliminated and a 7 per cent provincial rate will be added to the 5 per cent GST. This 12 per cent combined tax will be called the HST.

Which of your featured ski resorts are affected?

All ski resorts in British Columbia (BC), Western Canada, will be affected by this new HST. Out of our featured ski resorts, these include Fernie, Kimberley, Kicking Horse, Panorama and Whistler Blackcomb.

Will my ski holiday in British Columbia cost me more?

In short, yes. The main impact is on the lift passes which will now be subject to 12% tax (instead of 5%) at all the ski resort in British Columbia. A full list of ski resorts in BC can be viewed HERE.

How can I avoid this tax?

If you book and pay in full by the end of this month, April 2010, then you will not have to pay the additional 7% tax for next season. May 1 2010 onwards, you will have to pay the additional tax.

If you want to avoid the tax completely after May 1 2010, take your ski holiday in Alberta where goods and services are only subject to 5% GST. Out of our featured ski resorts, these include Banff Norquay, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, Jasper Marmot Basin and Nakiska. I suspect suppliers in British Columbia may lower rates or at the very least keep rates the same as last winter to keep competitive with suppliers in Alberta.

Booking in advance will save you money as there are some great early-bird ski deals available. Ski Holidays Canada for example have free ski days, hotel nights and kids ski and rent for free at select ski resorts as early-booking incentives.

With headlines like “Olympic Aversion grounds Vancouver-bound flights” and some properties still not booked for the Olympics, there is no wonder why tourism officials and property owners in Whistler are bracing themselves.

Olympic aversion is caused by the fear that the Olympics will mean that there are large crowds and no or little accommodation available with extortionate prices. Over the Olympics (February 11 to 28, 2010) this is partially true. However, during the Olympic events, Whistler Blackcomb is still open and so while the crowds are watching the events, you have the rest of the 8,171 acres/3,307 hectares spread out over two mountains to ski and ride.

Olympic venues such as Turin, Salt Lake City and Beijing have all seen this aversion and so Whistler Blackcomb are doing everything they can from stopping this from happening by extending discounts to their ski tour agents and operators.

Here are some things you can take advantage of as a result of the “Olympic aversion”:

1. Early-bird ski passes can be bought up to January 15 2010 saving you up to 50% (in previous years this date was November 15). Rates can be viewed here.
2. Incredible deals on Whistler accommodation before and after the Olympics (February 11 to 28, 2010) as property owners and managers scramble to get their places filled.
3. The mountains will be quieter than normal away from the events and around the events.

We have seen that this Olympic aversion has affected the whole of the 2009-2010 winter season in Whistler with guests opting for other ski resorts in Western Canada all together even around the Olympic dates and so great deals are to be had throughout the season.

To make things even harder to attract more guests to Whistler this season, other ski locations such as Banff (Banff Norquay, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise) are offering the lowest rates we have ever seen on accommodation, lift passes and airport transfers making it all more tempting for the budget-conscious traveller to choose an alternative to Whistler this year which in this economy, who can blame them?